Re: whacked out pickup idea
I'm assuming this is the bridge model (16.8k ohms). If so, it's an idea I've been kicking around in my head for a while.
At first glance, it seems it probably wouldn't help much -- ceramic magnets are the brightest magnets and which such a heavy mid and bass response, the bridge Invader needs all the treble it can get, and an Alnico 5 would be a step down in that department.
But you never really know for sure what something will sound like until you try it, so since it's a free and easily reversible mod, there's no harm in trying.
Note that since the Invader doesn't have one but three magnets -- regular size mag between coils/two skinny ones on each side -- one idea I might try is to leave one of the skinny outside ceramic mags (the one facing the bridge) in to emphasize the more trebly harmonic node some.
Another idea I've been considering is a neck invader with Alnico magnet (2, 3, 4, 5 -- don't know which would be best yet) for a good jazz or blues tone. It's only 7.2k and combining that with an Alnico mag would probably sound really good, and the huge pole pieces would give coverage on string bends that the traditional poles and slugs lack.
By the way, anybody here miss the non-shiny pole pieces on the original Invaders? The new ones are cool but the old ones were even cooler...
